The automation synergy

A new automatic equipment could be the opportunity to implement transformations such as the profits going beyond those foreseen in machine investment. The work described in this paper was developed in Leonische Portugal Lda, an electric cable supplier for the automobile industry. The staff has decided to buy a sophisticated machine (ARA) that would improve the cutting and crimping operations. On the other hand, the cutting section, where the machine would be installed, presented some problems: a complicated material routing, a problematic material follow-up and an informal quality control system. The solution suggested and implemented in the cutting section has the following characteristics: (1) a new layout with two goals: introduction of new equipment and reduce the material handling; (2) a computer based production planning that increases the system possibilities; (3) a new bar codes based identification system that allows the on-line control of production orders status; (4) a local operator based quality control system with the advantage of problems identifications in premature phase.